re: Is Duke Riley really a Four(4) Star?(Posted by ProjectP2294 on 1/25/13 at 7:34 am to rsbd)

I think he's only a 3 star because he's so much closer to his ceiling than a lot of other guys. He doesn't have a lot of areas to improve because he's just about maxed out. What you see is what you get. And while what you'll get is a good player, there are other guys that have more potential because they are more raw.

quote:I think he's only a 3 star because he's so much closer to his ceiling than a lot of other guys. He doesn't have a lot of areas to improve because he's just about maxed out. What you see is what you get. And while what you'll get is a good player, there are other guys that have more potential because they are more raw.

This is exactly what I came here to post.

It's not to say that he isn't a great player; only that his potential may not be as great as others (who are, at this stage, not on his level).

quote:I think he's only a 3 star because he's so much closer to his ceiling than a lot of other guys. He doesn't have a lot of areas to improve because he's just about maxed out. What you see is what you get. And while what you'll get is a good player, there are other guys that have more potential because they are more raw.

if this is the case then he should be a 5 star and he should come in and be able to start as a freshman...as a middle linebacker by trade i seriously disagree with your assessment of Duke...he has not even touched the surface of his potential...I will bookmark this post and we will revisit this when he is a junior should he decide to commit to LSU...

re: Is Duke Riley really a Four(4) Star?(Posted by jrevonte on 1/25/13 at 8:08 am to skullhawk)

quote:He's a good player but he's not even the best LB on his high school team.

Dude he was Defensive player of the year in the STATE!!! State trumps school!?!

I just watched Kendall Beckwith's highlights and compared his MLB play to DR...On my team I start Duke at MLB. I understand that KB is considered an athlete but he is too rough...he will need to learn how to attack down hill; he needs to learn reads; he needs to learn how to attack a seal block by a OL...i dont have to TEACH Duke these things...we just review and i would be comfortable with allowing him to play as a freshman...KB not so much

re: Is Duke Riley really a Four(4) Star?(Posted by GFunk on 1/25/13 at 8:21 am to jrevonte)

I trust the staff's ability to evaluate, and its obvious that this staff is DEFINITELY not collectively sold enough to even issue this guy a commitable offer in 2013.

Beyond that, if he & Melvin Jones both make it to campus, there will be 11 scholarship linebackers at LSU for Fall Camp of 2013.

I repeat-ELEVEN Scholarship Linebackers. That's a lot for three spots on the field. Even more when you consider the necessity of SEC teams to play Nickel & Dime personnel packages.

Drilling down a little further, including him & Melvin Jones will mean that of those 11, no less than 8 of those 11 will be Sophomores, RS Freshman or True Freshman.

We're talking about an incredibly stacked depth chart. It borders on bloated, in all honesty.

I doubt-sincerely-his ability to make an impact this year, and at best he'll be a RS with an opportunity to make an impact in his 4th or 5th year on campus.

He's a long, long term project at this point. Not due to physical skill, mind you. I have zero idea of his ability to translate his play to a college football field.

No, I say he's a long-term project because we're absolutely stacked at LB ahead of him for at least 2-3 more years.

Put it this way...I'll put Debo Jones & Kwon Alexanders are True Sophomores ahead of him right now, and again in the Fall. Those two cats will be hard pressed to start once Barrow slides to the middle. With Tahj Jones starting as well, that means that the two guys who are absolutely, demonstrably better and already have at least one year of on-the-field demonstrated ability to play won't see the field for at least one more year after NEXT year as consistent starters.

I just don't see this cat making an impact at LSU unless he stays a helluva long time.